School Psychologist (Counselling)

Are you interested in working with our dynamic and progressive school division to pursue excellence in education for students, professional learning opportunities, a flexible health benefits package, and a workplace that embraces diversity? Then we are the place for you!

Who we are and what we value

Parkland School Division (PSD) is a large progressive school jurisdiction serving Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Fort Chipewyan, and Parkland County. PSD meets the diverse educational needs of over 12,000 rural and urban students among 23 sites, including outreach schools and alternative education programs.

Our values are what guide us. We strive for learning opportunities that are purposeful, essential, relevant, authentic, and responsive while aiming for excellence in achievement. PSD also values trustworthy, respectful relationships that promote resilience as students and staff work towards our Ultimate Goal: Student Success & Well-being.

The Parkland School Division currently has a School Psychologist position available at Spruce Grove Composite High School. Open to Registered Psychologists, this full-time (1.0 FTE) high school-oriented position aligns with the desirable 10-month school calendar and would begin as soon as a suitable candidate is found, ideally in early September.

SUMMARY/ROLE DESCRIPTION

The School Psychologist is responsible for providing collaborative mental health services to support students who are experiencing social/emotional difficulties that are impacting the student’s ability to learn, as well as their overall wellness. These services are provided through intervention counselling, individual counselling, targeted counselling, and universal programming. The School Psychologist liaises between the school, the family, and the community to provide the most effective services for the students and works closely with a team of School Counsellors and other school-based supports. This School Psychologist position is focused exclusively on Counselling Supports, and does not conduct Psychoeducational Assessments.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Counselling Services

• Maintains a high level of knowledge regarding current and developing best practices in the field of student wellness, trauma-informed and restorative practices, assessing and managing risk of harm, and creating a safe school culture.
• Ensures that a continuum of preventative, developmental, remedial, and intervention services are provided to students and their families to support student wellness.
• Provides individual and targeted counselling services to students who are exhibiting emotional, behavioural, and social needs.
• Provides informal needs assessments and intervention that may include individual, targeted and/or universal strategies, referral and follow-up.
• Develops, conducts, and supports workshops, training, and in-service presentations on various approaches, strategies, and techniques to support students exhibiting emotional, behavioural, and social difficulties.
• Supports students and parents/guardians in identifying, planning for, and accessing professional services to support student wellness needs.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with parents/guardians of students with wellness and/orcounselling needs.
• Fosters relationships and builds partnerships with community supports and agencies.
• Knowledgeable of community agencies, their mandates, and referral procedures.
• Demonstrates strong problem-solving and coping skills, and is competent and flexible in intervention strategies.
• Consults with the Division Psychologist and engages in an ethical decision-making process when encountering ethical concerns.

Crisis Intervention Support

• Provides crisis intervention support and services to students.
• Participates in the Violent Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) process.
• Assesses the level of risk and provides intervention for students showing signs of suicidal behaviour,
• Implementing the guidelines outlined in the PSD’s suicide ideation protocol.
• Models calmness in times of crisis.

Additional Responsibilities

• Models and promotes continuous learning experiences through reflection, conversation, and practice.
• Willing to engage in lifelong learning with respect to professional development, training, in-services, and courses of study.
• Provides thorough and timely data and information as requested.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in Counselling, Psychology, or related field, with clinical and practicum component.
• 3+years of experience in providing counselling services with extensive clinical experience, preferably within a school environment.
• Registered Psychologist in good standing with the College of Alberta Psychologists.
• Extensive experience in working with youth, families, and social service agencies.
• Tiered Response Model Training (i.e., Response to Intervention, Collaborative Response Model) is an asset.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work is located at Spruce Grove Composite High School.
• Works on a 10-month school calendar.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

• Cover Letter and Resume.
• Three Professional References.
• Copy of relevant registrations and certifications.
• Philosophy of Providing Counselling in a High School setting. This is a one or two-page document where you describe your philosophy of working with youth who have emotionally and psychologically diverse needs in a school setting.

This position requires an original copy of a current, clean criminal record check with vulnerable sector and an original copy of a child intervention record check.

ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED THROUGH APPLY TO EDUCATION WILL BE ACCEPTED.

HOW TO APPLY

Applying is a two-step process. First, you must register and create a portfolio, then you must apply to the job posting by following the steps below:

• Click the position title of the job that you wish to apply to and then scroll down to the bottom of the page and click 'APPLY'.
• Jobs that you have applied to will appear under the ‘Jobs Applied To’ tab in the Job Postings section. You will also receive a confirmation email.

For technical support while applying to a position online, please contact our service provider for assistance:

Apply to Education

Phone: View phone number on ca.workus.org

Email: ***email_hidden***

Hours: 5:30 am-5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.